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MANILA, Philippines – The first week of President Rodrigo Duterte's 3rd year in office put a spotlight on the rising number of mayors and vice mayors killed since he assumed the presidency in July 2016.

Rappler has tallied at least 7 vice mayors and 12 mayors slain based on media reports between July 2016 and November 2018. This page contains information on each slain local executive, his or her political affiliation, and motives behind the killing. This will be updated as needed.

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MAYORS

Photo from Sudipen LGU Facebook page

ALEXANDER BUQUING

SEAT OF POWER: Sudipen, La UnionLENGTH OF SERVICE: 1st term, elected in 2016POLITICAL AFFILIATION DURING LAST ELECTION: Liberal PartyPOSITIONS HELD: Vice mayor (2013-2016), mayor (2004-2013)DATE OF KILLING: October 1, 2018METHOD: Ambushed by unidentified men on board a white pick-up while on his way homeMOTIVES: No motive established yet

MARIANO BLANCO III

SEAT OF POWER: Ronda, CebuLENGTH OF SERVICE: 3rd term, elected in 2010POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Liberal PartyPOSITIONS HELD: Councilor (1995-1998), mayor (1998-2007), vice mayor (2007-2010)DATE OF KILLING: September 5, 2018METHOD: Shot dead by 4 unidentified men inside his office at the town hall.OTHER INFORMATION: Blanco was linked to illegal drugs under the Duterte administration, and was stripped of police powers in October 2017.

FERDINAND BOTE

SEAT OF POWER: General Tinio, Nueva EcijaLENGTH OF SERVICE: 1st term, elected in 2016POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Elected under People's Reform Party in 2016 then jumped ship to PDP-LabanPOSITIONS HELD: Vice mayor (2010-2016) DATE OF KILLING: July 3, 2018METHOD: Ambushed by motorcycle-riding men while onboard his vehicleMOTIVES: Officials said Bote had no links to illegal drugs. The police said it is looking into 3 motives: Grudge from political enemies, dispute from his family's quarrying business, and anger over his construction business' supposed links with government projects. A suspect was arrested on July 11, 2018.OTHER INFORMATION: He is a member of the influential Nueva Ecija clan whose members occupied several positions through the years. His distant cousin, former mayor Virgilio Bote Jr, heads the Nueva Ecija and Luzon chapters of PDP-Laban.

ANTONIO "THONY" HALILI

SEAT OF POWER: Tanauan, BatangasLENGTH OF SERVICE: 2nd term, first elected in 2013POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Elected under Liberal Party in 2016 then jumped ship to PDP-LabanDATE OF KILLING: July 2, 2018METHOD: Shot dead by a sniper during the weekly flag raising ceremony in front of the City HallMOTIVES: No suspect yet but the PNP said it has 3 persons of interest in mind, two of them believed to be with links to drugsOTHER INFORMATION: Halili ruled with an iron fist and modeled his crime-busting tactics after President Rodrigo Duterte, implementing the so-called "walk of shame" where suspected drug personalities were paraded around the city. In 2017, however, Halili was linked to illegal drugs, prompting the National Police Commission to strip him of his police powers.

RONALD LOWELL TIROL

SEAT OF POWER: Buenavista, BoholLENGTH OF SERVICE: 2nd term, first elected in 2013POLITICAL AFFILIATION: United Nationalist AlliancePOSITIONS HELD: Vice mayor (2010-2013)DATE OF KILLING: May 27, 2018METHOD: Shot dead at close range while inside the town's cockpit arenaMOTIVES:Police said it is looking into politics, business deals and personal grudge as the motives. One of the 3 identified suspects was killed in a shootout in June 2018.OTHER INFORMATION: A member of an influential Bohol clan, he is the son of two former Buenavista mayors Leandro and Elsa Tirol.

REYNALDO PAROJINOG

SEAT OF POWER: Ozamiz City, Misamis OccidentalLENGTH OF SERVICE:5th term (first elected in 2001)POLITICAL AFFILIATION: National Unity PartyPOSITIONS HELD: Barangay chairperson (1997-2000)DATE OF KILLING: July 30, 2017METHOD: Killed in a police raid with 14 others in his home after his group allegedly engaged policemen who were serving them a search warrant over illegal firearms possessionOTHER INFORMATION: Parojinog was part of President Rodrigo Duterte's list of narcopoliticians. His family had also been linked to kidnapping and armed robbery via the group Kuratong Baleleng.

LEOVINO HIDALGO

SEAT OF POWER: Balete, BatangasLENGTH OF SERVICE: 3rd term, first elected in 2010POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Nationalist People's CoalitionDATE OF KILLING: June 10, 2017METHOD: Shot in the head by unidentified men during a basketball gameMOTIVES: No motive established yetOTHER INFORMATION: In 2015, Hidalgo was linked to gambling lord Vic Siman who was one of the 13 killed in the Atimonan shootout. The mayor, however, denied being involved in illegal gambling.

GISELA BENDONG-BONIEL

SEAT OF POWER: Bien Unido, BoholLENGTH OF SERVICE: 1st term, elected in 2016POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Nationalist People's CoalitionDATE OF KILLING: June 7, 2017METHOD: Abducted from a resort and allegedly shot dead. Her body has yet to be found.MOTIVES:Witnesses said she was allegedly killed and dumped at sea by her husband, Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey BonielOTHER INFORMATION: Gisela Boniel used to be a commercial pilot of AirAsia before entering politics upon the prodding of her husband

ARSENIO AGUSTIN

SEAT OF POWER: Marcos, Ilocos NorteLENGTH OF SERVICE: 2nd term, first elected in 2013POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Nacionalista PartyDATE OF KILLING: June 3, 2017METHOD: Shot dead by unidentified gunmen while inspecting a local government projectMOTIVES:Close friends of Agustin said he had been receiving death threatsOTHER INFORMATION: Agustin was suspended for one month in 2016 by the Office of the Ombudsman after being found guilty of simple neglect of duty

MOHAMMAD EXCHAN LIMBONA

SEAT OF POWER:Pantar, Lanao del NorteLENGTH OF SERVICE: 3rd term, first elected in 2010POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Liberal PartyPOSITIONS HELD:Barangay captain of Kalanganan (2007-2010)DATE OF KILLING: December 29, 2016METHOD: Shot dead in an ambush by unidentified gunmenMOTIVES:Police said Limbona’s assassination was triggered by rido (clan war) and politics in his hometownOTHER INFORMATION: In 2007, he was accused of killing Pantar vice mayor Hadji Abdul Onos in 2007. He was administratively dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2014 but refused to vacate his post.

ROLANDO ESPINOSA SR

SEAT OF POWER: Albuera, LeyteLENGTH OF SERVICE: 1st term, elected in 2016POLITICAL AFFILIATION: IndependentDATE OF KILLING: November 5, 2016METHOD: Killed in a reported shootout inside his jail cell at the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail in Baybay City. Authorities alleged they were serving a search warrant when he resisted.OTHER INFORMATION: He was arrested by police in October 2016 after a raid in his house yielded 11 kilos of suspected methamphetamine estimated to be worth P88 million, and high-powered weapons. He and his son, Kerwin, were among the first alleged drug personalities named by Duterte.

SAMSUDIN DIMAUKOM

SEAT OF POWER: Dati Saudi Ampatuan, MaguindanaoLENGTH OF SERVICE: 2nd term, first elected in 2013POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Liberal PartyPOSITIONS HELD:Maguindanao deputy vice governor (2012)DATE OF KILLING: October 28, 2016METHOD: Killed in an alleged shootout with state operatives in Makilala, North Cotabato after his convoy was flagged down at a checkpoint “based on information that the group will transport illegal drugs to Maguindanao and Cotabato area.”OTHER INFORMATION: Dimaukom was one of the local officials on the drug list of President Duterte which he released to the public in August 2016. In September 2016, police raided his compount but did not find illegal drugs.

VICE MAYORS

AL-FRED CONCEPCION

SEAT OF POWER: Balaoan, La UnionLENGTH OF SERVICE: first term, elected in 2016 [26 years as politician]POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Ran under the Liberal Party in 2016DATE OF KILLING: November 14, 2018METHOD: Shot dead by unidentified men while on his way to the municipal hallMOTIVES: No motive established yetOTHER INFORMATION: His daughter, Balaoan Mayor Aleli Concepcion, was with his convoy when the incident happened. She was injured and rushed to the hospital.

ALEX LUBIGAN

SEAT OF POWER: Trece Martires, CaviteLENGTH OF SERVICE: 3rd term, first elected in 2010POLITICAL AFFILIATION: United Nationalist AllianceDATE OF KILLING: July 7, 2018METHOD: Shot dead by unidentified men while onboard his vehicleMOTIVES: Police are looking at politics as a possible motive since Lubigan revealed his plan to run for mayor a day before he was gunned downOTHER INFORMATION: In 2016, a businessman filed plunder and graft charges against Lubigan and other Trece Martires officials, including De Sagun, before the Office of the Ombudsman

AL RASHID MOHAMMAD ALI

SEAT OF POWER: Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-TawiLENGTH OF SERVICE: First term, elected in 2016POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Nationalist People's CoalitionDATE OF KILLING: July 11, 2018METHOD: Shot dead by unidentified men while travelling with his wifeMOTIVES: Police eyes politics as the motive as the Ali was "being groomed" to take over the mayoral positionOTHER INFORMATION: He is the son of incumbent Sapa Sapa Mayor Alsaggab Mohammad Ali.

JONAH JOHN UNGAB

SEAT OF POWER: Ronda, CebuLENGTH OF SERVICE: 3rd term, first elected in 2010POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Liberal PartyPOSITIONS HELD:Municipal councilor (2004-2010)DATE OF KILLING: February 19, 2018METHOD: Shot dead by unidentified men after attending a court hearingMOTIVES: Police said the killing may be political because it was reported that Ungab wanted to run for mayor in 2019OTHER INFORMATION: Ungab represented suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa in court for a Comelec gun ban case. He, however, insisted that his relationship with the Espinosas was purely professional.

JACKSON CINCO DY

SEAT OF POWER: Roxas, Oriental MindoroLENGTH OF SERVICE: 1st term, elected in 2016POLITICAL AFFILIATION: National Unity PartyPOSITIONS HELD: Mayor (2010-2016)DATE OF KILLING: September 22, 2017METHOD: Shot dead by unidentified men while in a car wash stationMOTIVES: Police have identified the gunman but have yet to establish motives.

ANWAR SINDATOK

SEAT OF POWER: Datu Saudi Ampatuan, MaguindanaoLENGTH OF SERVICE: 1st term, assumed post in 2016POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Liberal PartyPOSITIONS HELD: Municipal councilor (July 2016-October 2016)DATE OF KILLING: November 27, 2016METHOD: Shot dead inside his home by unidentified men while entertaining some visitorsMOTIVES: Police said politics might be the motiveOTHER INFORMATION: Sindatok had just assumed the post of vice mayor after the previous vice mayor, Anida Dimaukom, assumed the post of mayor, which was vacated when Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom was killed in an alleged shootout with police. The slain mayor was on Duterte's drug list.

AARON SAMPAGA

SEAT OF POWER: Pamplona, CagayanLENGTH OF SERVICE: 1st term, elected in 2016POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Liberal PartyPOSITIONS HELD:Mayor (2007-2016)DATE OF KILLING: August 5, 2016METHOD: Shot dead by two unidentified men while having drinks outside his homeMOTIVES: No motive established yet OTHER INFORMATION: Former vice mayor Edwin Ifurung implicated Sampaga in the murder of his brother Edmund in 2014.

Earlier, Duterte made a bold campaign promise to end crime and illegal drugs in 3 to 6 months. In fact, while other crimes have gone down, the homicide countcontinues to soar across the country.

Malacañang, however, said that the killings of mayors and vice mayors are not state-sponsored.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, meanwhile, admitted that the killings are already cause for concern and ordered a crackdown on gun-for-hire and private armed groups. – with reports from Michael Bueza/Rappler.com

Welcome to Rappler, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. Rappler comes from the root words "rap" (to discuss) + "ripple" (to make waves).